No, they don’t wear lycra and fly through the sky (that I know about or want to know about anyway) but they do come to our rescue in times of need.
Our parents are the greatest! If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to return to work after having the boys and we most definitely wouldn’t have been able to go away to celebrate our birthdays recently or have date nights!
We are really lucky that my parents are less than 5 minutes away and the in-laws are only an hour away. They are never intrusive but they have helped us out so much over the years since the children have been born and I’m not sure we could ever thank them enough.
They have come to our rescue when our eldest fractured his femur and required a blue light trip to the hospital. My Mum has never travelled the mile between our houses as quickly as she did that morning. She took amazing care of a very frightened 1 year old as his brother was wheeled off to the hospital.
They also helped out so much in the final weeks of my twin pregnancy when I was so poorly and getting up off the sofa required a crane and about 20 minutes! Days out and extended holidays definitely helped break the boredom of Mummy being a beached whale!
I know they say they enjoy it but looking after the grandchildren does take it out of them. They’re not in their 30s any more! But, at the same time, I think it’s keeping them younger. They get out more and run around which can’t be bad for their health.
It’s also giving our Dad’s an opportunity to get back what they missed out on when we were younger. I know my Dad worked incredibly long hours just so my Mum could stay at home with us. He missed out on a lot of the fun of having really little people and I think he’s making up for that now. He’ll quite often phone up and asks if he can take the boys out or come play with them.
With the rising cost of living, Mums are having to go back to work after maternity leave. This means more and more grandparents are helping out with childcare. It’s a good job really as childminders and nurseries don’t come cheap! Without my parents help, there would have been no point me returning to work. All of my wages every month would have been gobbled up by the long nursery hours the boys would have needed. I also love the way they are cared for by someone they know really well and trust completely. They still do a few hours a week at nursery so there’s not as much pressure on my parents and I like them mixing with other children.
But, does there come a time when grandparents doing large amounts of childcare has to stop?
Yes, for me I think there does. Our parents are still fairly young and in good health. I’m not sure I would impose on them so much if they were a lot older and heading towards their 70’s or their health was failing them. If my children started to cause them big problems such as stress or they became ill then we would reevaluate the situation immediately. I wouldn’t want them caring for our children to make them ill or prevent them getting better.
They say they enjoy it and I do think that’s genuine as they’ve really missed having the boys while I’ve been on maternity leave. If they are enjoying it and everybody is happy, then the arrangement works.
I’ll never be able to thank them enough for all the help they give us and will be forever grateful to them.
They certainly are superheroes! I just wish my mum and dad lived closer. It can take up to 3hrs to get to them in London and we only get to see them about once a month which makes me feel really guilty as baby Jack is missing out. They absolutely idolise him. Nice post!! xx #SundayStars
It makes visiting grandparents all the more special when they live far away. I sometimes think my kids take theirs for granted as they live so close x
Grandparents really are superheros. My parents have been life savers at times. My hubby works away all week every week so having them around as back up is great for me. They can pick my little boy up from nursery if I can’t get out of work and they come and keep us company every Monday. My Dad potters around and does a few jobs that we haven’t had chance to do too. #sundaystars xx
Your parents sound great. I always feel so lucky to have my parents around to help x
I write having just collected our girls from Granparent-Gs place. They truly are superheroes! Without whom I would not have enjoyed a lovely curry last night 🙂 I lost my own grandparents at a very young age, so I only now realise what I missed out on. It doesn’t always come completely easily, there can be politics to navigate through. But when all is said and done, we are forever indebted to them for there help. I wonder, one day, what kind of Grandparent will I be? hopefully one that loves my grandchildren, spoils them rotten, is the nutty nanny whose home is filled with fun. What a lovely thought 🙂
X MMT
Ps #sundaystars
Hope you had a lovely curry!
I often wonder what kind of grandparent I’ll be too! I’ll definitely be one that spoils them rotten and let’s them break all the rules!
They are superheroes aren’t they! Both my parents and in laws live about an hour away which I sometimes can feel alone but when needed they are there #sundaystars xx
It’s good that they’re always there. I know an hour doesn’t seem that far away but sometimes can feel like the opposite side of the world 🙂
Unfortunately for us we don’t get any childcare help from either set of parents. I don’t doubt that they adore the children, but one set are in their 70’s, the other both work, and both sets live around 1-1.5 hours away. But having them in our childrens lives is more important than the help they can provide – I do admit to having a pang of jealousy towards those who have very involved grandparents though!
I do admit that we are incredibly lucky. I really don’t know how we would cope without them.
I’m sure your parents are great when they do see their grandchildren and it probably means they have a better relationship. My children do seem to take theirs for granted as they’re with them a lot. X
I totally agree with this post well atleast with my mum, she is there for all my children’s needs (and mine) only a phone call away, grandparents really are superg=heroes in their own right #twinklytuesday
chantelle hazelden recently posted…Turning From a Toddler Into a Threenager
I don’t know what I’d do without mine. Glad you have a similar relationship 🙂
Grandparents are awesome. You are very lucky to have such wonderful people around you. I lost my Mom last year and like yours, she did so much and just doted on her grandchildren. It’s incredibly cruel not only that she was only in her 50s but that my girls were only 10 months old when she passed away. Treasure your parents as you are truely blessed to have such fabulous ones xx #twinklytuesday
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So sorry to hear about your Mom.
I really do treasure my parents and would be lost without them 🙂
It is great when you have child care on hand from grandparents. It helps spread the load. Many of us don’t have it but even then it is great to see that other people love our children too, even if they cant help our much. Kirsten #twinklytuesday
Kirsten Toyne recently posted…Your Feelings Count-The Summer Holiday Self Worth Challenge Part 2
Oh yes. Our grandparents are 9 hours drive away and a 12 hour flight away so we cherish the rare babysitting moments. Would be so scary to have no one to panic at on the phone.
#twinklytuesday
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This is EXACTLY how I feel – my parents are superheroes too, they look after my boy so much so I can go to work, go on date nights, nights out. I know I’m so lucky and appreciate them so much too – I think I would have gone crazy without their help! Sabrina xx #twinklytuesday
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Mine have saved the day so many times. I’d honestly be lost without them. 🙂
Totally agree, I have both sides of the family within 5 minutes so we always have someone on hand should we need them. I couldn’t cope without them! #TwinklyTuesdays
Katy (What Katy Said) recently posted…Our Visit To Woburn Safari Park
We really are so lucky. I hope I can help out like this when I’m a granny 🙂
Your children’s grandparents do sound like superheroes. It is brilliant that they looked after the children so that you could go back to work. It does make such a difference having someone you loveand trust care for your children. Sadly, Little Miss H’s Grandaparents live a few hours away. So we don’t get to see them as often as we like. Which is a shame because little Miss ah adores them (especially her Grand fathers). However, they have very kindly babysitted over a weekend on the odd occasion so that we could get some time away. Lovely! Thanks for linking up to #SundaysStars. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
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Such a shame they live so far away but I bet it makes seeing them all the more special.
That’s great they help out so you can get some time away. That is a massive treat x
How lovely – my parents live in the South of France and the in laws 2.5 hours away so neither are part of our everyday lives #TwinklyTuesday
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This is beautiful. My parents are also amazing and they truly go out of their way to help me and my hubby out. My inlaws aswell! I am truly lucky to have them in my life.
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How wonderful that you have such wonderful relationships with the grandparents. Your children will always have such fond memories… and it opens up the possibilities for you to be as involved grandparents as you want to be when that time comes. My parents live on different continents from me, and honestly I prefer it that way. I don’t want my kids to have a lot of exposure to them because they can be quite toxic. My former in-laws live about 1000 miles away, but they are quite involved and actually see more of my kids than their father does. I am very grateful for the sense of grounding and home they give my daughters.
Thanks for linking with #TwinklyTuesday!
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